Political and Social Structures in Hellenistic Judea (332-63 BCE)

1. From Text to Tradition
   1. Under Ptolemies and Seleucids
   2. The Jerusalem Temple and the Priesthood
   3. The Gerousia
2. Historical Surveys
   1. Lee I. Levine. “The Age of Hellenism- Alexander the Great and the Rise and Fall of the Hasmonean Kingdom.”
3. Primary sources
   1. Josephus, Antiquities XII, 1-9- Alexander’s Successors
   2. Josephus, Antiquities, XII, 129-46- Antiochus III conquers Jerusalem
   3. Zenon Papyri- Jews in Hellenistic Egypt
   4. Vienna Papyrus- Jewish Military Settlers in Ptolemaic Palestine
   5. Josephus, Against Apion I, 195-99- Hecateus of Abdera on Jerusalem
   6. Ben Sira 50- The Glory of the High Priest
   7. Josephus, Antiquities, XII, 138-144 – King Antiochus’ Favorable Attitudes to the Jews
   8. 1 Maccabees 12- 5-11 – Letter to the Spartans
   9. 1 Maccabees 14- 20-23 Letter from the Spartans
4. Secondary Sources
   1. Background to Hanukkah: Inscription Reveals Roots of Maccabean Revolt, Hershel Shanks, Biblical Archaeology Review (34:6) Nov/Dec 2008.
5. Images
   1. Arsinoe II, the wife of Ptolemy II Philadelphus portrayed on a silver coin minted during her husband’s reign 285-246 BCE, (front).
   2. Coin minted during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus portraying a cornucopia, 285-246 BCE (reverse).
   3. Seleucus II Kallinikos, the king of Syria portrayed on a silver coin 246-226 BCE, with the god Apollo on reverse side